Device for making marginal folds in strips



May 10, 1955 M. F. CURRIE 2,703,113

DEVICE FOR MAKING MARGINAL FOLDS m STRIPS Filed June 5, 1952 I N VEN TOR United States Patent DEVICE FOR MAKING MARGINAL FOLDS IN STRIPS Margaret F. Currie, ManhassetyN. Y.

Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,881

4 Claims. (Cl. 270--93) it, folds of whatever width and length desired can be easily made for bands, edging, and the like, to be applied to garments, curtains and in a great variety of other situations.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means through which a strip of fabric or other flexible material, capable of receiving and retaining a crease, may be drawn manually or mechanically. The strip is fed into the device at one point and without the intervention of any moving parts, comes out at an opposite point with a crease or fold in one or both sides, as may be desired.

The device includes, as primary components, a base, a shaper adapted to overlie a portion of a strip to be folded and hold it slidably against the base, and a folder adapted to engage bent over marginal portions of the strip, extending beyond the shaper, and hold them slidably against the upper side of the shaper.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description, read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. I is a perspective view showing the base;

Fig. II is a bottom plan view of the folder carrying the shaper;

Fig. III is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing the parts of the device when in operative position;

Fig. IV is a top plan view of the device, with a strip of cloth to be folded in it, and

Fig. V is a perspective view showing the device ready to receive a work strip for creasing or folding.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the base constituting a fabric contacting surface, preferably in the form of a fiat, more or less rectangular sheet, made of metal, plastic, cardboard, or any other suitable material. Base 1 has perforations 1a for insertion of thumb tacks or other means for fastening base 1 to a table or the like, after the fabric has been arranged on shaper 8. Slots 2 and 3 are formed in base 1. A folder 4, best made in the form of a sheet of fairly stiff but flexible fabric, plastic, or the like, extends through slot 2. The lower end 5 of folder 4 is secured to the bottom of base 1 along line 6. The securing means may be stitching, or glue or other means may be used. Folder 4 is best made with a pointed end 7 for easy insertion from the under side of base 1 into slots 2 and 3, in assembling the device for operation, as subsequently described.

A shaper 8 holds work strip 9 flat against base 1, throughout substantially the entire area between slots 2 and 3. Shaper 8 is attached to folder 4, as at 8a, by stitching or other means. The attachment is such that the edges of shaper S are accessible to receive margins of work strip 9. One or both marginal por- "ice tions of strip 9, turned over to the extent desired for the fold to be made, lie between shaper '8 and folder 4. When the device is arranged for folding, shaper 8 overlies the space on base 1 between slots 2 and 3, as shown in Fig. III. The space between slots 2 and 3, as shown in Fig. III, is approximately equal to the width of shaper 8. Shaper 8 preferably has a pointed end 10 at the fabric receiving end of the device and a pointed end 10a at the opposite end. These can be q used as an aid in keeping strip 9 centered, as subse quently described. Shaper 8 may have transverse scale markings 11 to assist in laying out the folds and base 1 may also be marked witha scale 12 for a similar purpose. It is desirable also to provide a slit 12a in base 1, of the proper length to serve as a measure. A strip of fabric may be inserted in slit 12a and cut off at the edge of base 1 as the strip is moved along by hand.

The device is operated as follows: A work strip 9 is selected, having a width as much greater than. the width of shaper 8 as is desired for the fold or folds. Obviously, the basic width of the folded strip cannot be less than the width of shaper 8 and it is contemplated that the device of my invention will be used in sets of say three or four, which will give the required flexibility, a rather wide shaper and corresponding base, for example, to make up folded strips or bands for draperies or furniture covers, a narrow shaper and corresponding base for making bands for dresses and the like requiring dainty ornamentation, and one or two intermediate sizes. Strip 9 may be folded down the middle to make a line which can be kept in contact with point 10 in running the strip through the device. It is easy to fold a strip manually on itself down the middle, but very diflicult to fold over marginal portions only to get a long, even fold. This is readily accomplished by the device of my invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, work strip 9 is moved forwardly and its edges are inserted, evenly bent over, between shaper 8 and the under side of folder 4. End 7 of folder 4 is then inserted through slot 3 and folder 4 is drawn down tightly. End 7 is next inserted through slot 2 to keep folder 4 from moving when the strip is pulled, or any other suitable way may be adopted for securing folder 4 temporarily, as by making folder 4 sufiiciently long to reach around to the top of base 1 Where it may be secured with a thumb tack or otherwise. When thin, easily foldable fabrics are being processed, the folder will not get out of place even though no means are provided for holding free end 7. It is often desirable to use the device without rigid attachment to a table or the like, but it should be attached when heavy material is being run through. The operator grasps with one hand the forward end of work strip 9, holding the base 1 with the other hand (unless the base is fastened down), and pulls strip 9 through the device, thereby forming a fold Where the overturned edge or edges of strip 9 engage folder 4 and shaper 8. By placing base 1 at the edge of a table and pulling strip 9 down at an angle, the sharpness of the crease or fold is improved, as compared with merely pulling strip 9 through on a line with base 1. When necessary, heat may be applied to work strip 9 to set the fold as it emerges, the fabric may be moistened before running through the device, or various other expedients may be used which will be indicated by the nature of the work strip.

Bands and the like are available on the market in rolls. If bought in any substantial quantity, they are rather costly. Moreover, even aside from expense, the products on the market often are not available in the desired material or color. With the device of my invention, a decided advantage can be secured by using' a part of the, sewers stock material to make bands matching the main work. ..The bands may be straight or bias material. Aside from this advantage, it will be found desirable to use the present device as it will 'turn out excellent folds, bands and like at low cost.

I claim: 1. A fabric folder comprising a base, a flexible member mounted on said base, an elongated shaper mounted on said flexible member by means arranged internally from the edges of said shaper, leaving said edges free to receive therebeneath, marginal portions of a strip of fabric to be folded, and means on the base for receiving a free end of said flexible member so that the same may be drawn into close contact with the shaper and the marginal portions of the strip of fabric to press said shaper and the fabric carried thereby against said .base, in a manner to permit continuous forward sliding motion thereof.

2. A fabric folder comprising a base, a shaper of genis free to move sufliciently with respect to said flexible member to permit entry of a marginal portion of said fabric strip.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said base has a slot extending generally parallel to said flexible member and adapted to receive the end of the same for drawing beneath the base to press said shaper and the fabric strip carried thereby, against the upper'surface of said base.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said base has a second slot generally parallel to said flexible member and adapted to receive the end of the same, whereby said flexible member, after having been drawn through said first slot, may also be drawn through said second slot to press said shaper, and the fabric strip carried thereby, against the upper surface of the base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 229,447 Moorefield June 29, 1880 732,212 Newgarden June 30, 1903 1,001,546 McLin et a1. Aug. 22, 1911 2,400,698 Lissa May 21, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 509,007 Germany Oct. 3, 1930 

